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6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
6th (Service) Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment was raised in Devizes in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and joined 19th (Western) Division as diviaional troops, training on Salisbury Plain. In December 1914 they moved to billets in Basingstoke for the winter and joined 58th Brigade still with 19th (Western) Division. They moved to Perham Down in March for final training and proceeded to France in July 1915. and concentrated near St Omer. Their first action was at Pietre, in a diversionary action supporting the Battle of Loos. In 1916 They were in action during the Battle of the Somme, capturing La Boisselle and being involved in The attacks on High Wood, The Battles of Pozieres Ridge, the Ancre Heights and the Ancre. In 1917 they were in action in The Battle of Messines and the Third Battles of Ypres. On the 20th of September 1917 they amalgamated with the Wiltshire Yeomanry, and were retitled the 6th (Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) Battalion. In 1918 They fought on The Somme and in the Battles of the Lys. On the 13th of May 1918 they were reduced to cadre strength with menn transferring to the 2nd Battalion. On the 16th of June they transferred to 42nd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division and returned to England via Boulogne. At Brookwood, the Battalion was reconstituted and absorbed the 9th Dorsetshire regiment. They returned to France on the 4th of July, landing at Boulogne and joined Second Army, seeing action at Ypres 1918 and in the final advance in Flanders.
Jul 1915 Training Instruction
Jul 1915 Billets
20th Jul 1915 On the Move
21st Jul 1915 On the Move
22nd Jul 1915 Training
23rd Jul 1915 On the March
24th Jul 1915 On the March
25th Jul 1915 Church Parade
26th Jul 1915 Training
27th Jul 1915 Training
28th Jul 1915 Training
29th Jul 1915 Visit
30th Jul 1915 Training
31st Jul 1915 On the March 
1st Aug 1915 Church Parade
2nd Aug 1915 Training
3rd Aug 1915 Training
4th Aug 1915 Inspection
5th Aug 1915 On the March
6th Aug 1915 Training
7th Aug 1915 Training
8th Aug 1915 Wet Day
9th Aug 1915 Training
10th Aug 1915 Training
11th Aug 1915 Training
12th Aug 1915 Training
13th Aug 1915 Exercise
14th Aug 1915 Training
15th Aug 1915 Sunday
16th Aug 1915 Exercise
17th Aug 1915 Instruction
18th Aug 1915 Working Parties
19th Aug 1915 Working Parties & Instruction
20th Aug 1915 Posts
21st Aug 1915 Posts
22nd Aug 1915 Instruction
23rd Aug 1915 Instruction
24th Aug 1915 Instruction
25th Aug 1915 Working Parties
26th Aug 1915 On the March
27th Aug 1915 Training
28th Aug 1915 Training
29th Aug 1915 On the March
30th Aug 1915 Reliefs
31st Aug 1915 Trench Work
1st Sep 1915 Working Parties
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3rd Sep 1915 Working Parties Hindered
4th Sep 1915 Rifle Grenades
5th Sep 1915 New Trench
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7th Sep 1915 Working Parties
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9th Sep 1915 Trench Work
10th Sep 1915 Draft
11th Sep 1915 Sandbags
12th Sep 1915 Communication Trenches
13th Sep 1915 Enemy Active
14th Sep 1915 Trench Work
15th Sep 1915 Quiet
16th Sep 1915 Into Reserve
17th Sep 1915 Working Parties
18th Sep 1915 Working Parties
19th Sep 1915 Working Parties
20th Sep 1915 Working Parties
21st Sep 1915 Reliefs
23rd Sep 1915 Reliefs
24th Sep 1915 Very Wet
25th Sep 1915 Attack Made
26th Sep 1915 Wounded
27th Sep 1915 Wounded
28th Sep 1915 Salvage
29th Sep 1915 Reliefs
30th Sep 1915 Reliefs
1st Oct 1915 Bad Weather
2nd Oct 1915 Mine
3rd Oct 1915 Reliefs
4th Oct 1915 Trench Work
5th Oct 1915 Trench Work
6th Oct 1915 Trench Work
7th Oct 1915 Reliefs
8th Oct 1915 On the March
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16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
17th Oct 1915 Training
18th Oct 1915 On the March
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22nd Oct 1915 Baths
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31st Oct 1915 Reliefs
1st Nov 1915 Bad Weather
2nd Nov 1915 Bad Weather
3rd Nov 1915 Bad Weather
4th Nov 1915 Working Parties
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6th Nov 1915 Working Parties
7th Nov 1915 Reliefs
8th Nov 1915 Working Parties
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12th Nov 1915 Reliefs
13th Nov 1915 Wet Day
14th Nov 1915 Trench Work
15th Nov 1915 Trench Work
16th Nov 1915 Trench Work
17th Nov 1915 Reliefs
18th Nov 1915 Baths
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21st Nov 1915 Church Parade
22nd Nov 1915 Working Parties
23rd Nov 1915 Working Parties
24th Nov 1915 Training
25th Nov 1915 Training
26th Nov 1915 Training
27th Nov 1915 Training
28th Nov 1915 Training
29th Nov 1915 Church Parade
30th Nov 1915 Training
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
1st Dec 1915 Training
2nd Dec 1915 Training and Working Parties
3rd Dec 1915 On the March
4th Dec 1915 On the March
5th Dec 1915 At Rest
6th Dec 1915 Refitting
7th Dec 1915 Reliefs
8th Dec 1915 Artillery in Action
9th Dec 1915 Poor Conditions
10th Dec 1915 Poor Conditions
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
11th Dec 1915 Reliefs
12th Dec 1915 At Rest
13th Dec 1915 Baths
14th Dec 1915 Training
15th Dec 1915 New CO
16th Dec 1915 Inspection
17th Dec 1915 Training
18th Dec 1915 Training
19th Dec 1915 Reliefs
20th Dec 1915 Training
21st Dec 1915 Instruction
21st Dec 1915 Instruction
22nd Dec 1915 Instruction
23rd December 1915 Preparing to Move
23rd Dec 1915 Reliefs
24th Dec 1915 Artillery in Action
25th Dec 1915 Quiet
26th Dec 1915 Instruction
26th Dec 1915 Working Parties
27th Dec 1915 Instruction
27th Dec 1915 Reliefs
28th Dec 1915 Working Party
29th Dec 1915 Instruction
30th Dec 1915 Instruction
31st Dec 1915 Reliefs
1st Jan 1916 Trench Work
2nd Jan 1916 Patrols
3rd Jan 1916 Enemy Working Parties
4th Jan 1916 Reliefs
5th Jan 1916 Reinforcements
6th Jan 1916 Training
7th Jan 1916 Training
8th Jan 1916 Training
9th Jan 1916 Baths
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
10th Jan 1916 Training
11th Jan 1916 Training
12th Jan 1916 Training
13th Jan 1916 Training
14th Jan 1916 Reliefs
15th Jan 1916 Working Party
16th Jan 1916 Working Party
17th Jan 1916 Working Party
18th Jan 1916 Reliefs
19th Jan 1916 Holding the Line
22nd Jan 1916 Trench Work
23rd Jan 1916 Reliefs
24th Jan 1916 Refitting
25th Jan 1916 On the March
26th Jan 1916 In Billets
27th Jan 1916 Inspection
28th Jan 1916 Training
29th Jan 1916 Instruction
30th Jan 1916 Church Parade
1st Feb 1916 Training
2nd Feb 1916 Training
3rd Feb 1916 Training
4th Feb 1916 Training
5th Feb 1916 Training
6th Feb 1916 Church Parade
7th Feb 1916 Training
8th Feb 1916 Football Tournament
9th February 1916 Call Ups
9th Feb 1916 Football Tournament
10th Feb 1916 Football Tournament
11th Feb 1916 Inspection
12th Feb 1916 Sport
13th Feb 1916 Church Parade
14th Feb 1916 Training
15th Feb 1916 Training
16th Feb 1916 Reliefs
17th Feb 1916 Recce
18th Feb 1916 Reliefs
1st Mar 1916 Reliefs
2nd Apr 1917 Heavy Snow
1st Oct 1916 Orders
2nd Oct 1916 Brigades Training
3rd Oct 1916 Reliefs
4th Oct 1916 On the Move
6th Oct 1916 Orders
7th Oct 1916 Reliefs
8th Oct 1916 Orders Issued
12th Oct 1916 Shelling
14th Oct 1916 Orders
15th Oct 1916 Orders
3rd Nov 1916 Reliefs
19th of November 1916 Relieved
1st Dec 1916 Training
2nd Dec 1916 Training
13th Dec 1916 Inspection
18th Dec 1916 Inspections
21st Dec 1916 Sports Medals
22nd Dec 1916 Company Training
31st Dec 1916 Training
31st of March 1917 Relieved
1st Apr 1917 Artillery Registration
3rd Apr 1917 Blizzard
4th Apr 1917 Artillery Active
5th Apr 1917 Some Shelling
6th Apr 1917 Artilery in Support
7th Apr 1917 Shelling
8th Apr 1917 Artillery Registration
9th Apr 1917 Hail Stones
10th of July 1917 Relieved
7th August 1917 Lectures
6th of January 1918 Evening Relief
25th Jan 1918 Reliefs
29th Jan 1918 Trench Work
17th of March 1918 Working Party
23rd Mar 1918 Heavy Fighting
24th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
10th of April 1918 Into Battle
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Angell Arthur George. Pte. (d.2nd July 1916)
- Badgley James Chester. 2nd Lt. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Bathard James. L/Cpl. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Bathard Samuel. Pte. (d.25th Sep 1915)
- Blackmore Ewart Gladstone. 2nd Lt.
- Bullus Ralph Henry Samuel. Pte.
- Burchell DCM Ernest. A/Sgt.
- Butler DCM. Edward H.. WO2.
- Church George. Pte (d.8th June 1917)
- Derryman Arthur Fredrick . Pte. (d.7th June 1917)
- Durn Harry. Pte. (d.9th Jun 1917)
- Emblen Frederick William. Pte. (d.23rd Mar 1918)
- Fillis Charlie. Pte. (d.6th November 1916)
- Gower William John. L/Cpl. (d.2nd July 1916)
- Harding Charles. (d.1st Jul 1916)
- Hill James Dawson. Pte. (d.14th Jul 1917)
- James Samuel John. Pte. (d.23rd March 1918)
- James Samuel John. Pte (d.23rd March 1918)
- Jordan Leopold John. CQMS. (d.4th November 1916)
- Kilminster Edward George. Pte. (d.2nd July 1916)
- Leach Frederick Charles. Pte. (d.18th Oct 1918)
- Leach Frederick Charles. Pte. (d.18th October 1918)
- Marlow Percy. Capt.. (d.7th July 1917)
- McCall Archibald Ness. Pte.
- McGregor E. G.. Pte. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Moss Thomas Henry. Pte. (d.12th Apr 1918)
- Pewtress Frederick Donald. Cpl. (d.2nd July 1916)
- Pinchen Ernest Jesse. Pte (d.23rd July 1916)
- Pinchen Ernest Jessie. Pte (d.23rd Jul 1916)
- Sheppard Josiah. L/Cpl. (d.13th Nov 1916)
- Walker Henry John. Sgt. (d.7th July 1916)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Ralph Henry Samuel Bullus 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment  Ralph Bullus, born 3rd June 1896, volunteered at the start of the war and served in France and Flanders throughout. Wounded and captured in the German spring offensive 1918, he was taken P.O.W and enterned in Germany until repatriated by the red cross in January 1919 and taken to Blackfriars Hospital London for treatment of wounds. He lived out the rest of his life with his family in Nunney, Somerset until he died in 1969. He was my grandfather and we are very proud of him. Below is an extract from a letter he sent to the hospital in London and published in the Somerset Standard newspaper at the time;
"Private Ralph Bullus, of the 6th Wilts, from Nunney, writes to Mrs Milne-Redhead from King George’s Hospital, Blackfriars, as follows:-
I am safe back in the dear old country once more. We left Germany about the ninth of January under the French Red Cross people. They handed us over to our Red Cross about ten days after, to a hospital in the South of France, and I was very thankful for that day. The French Red Cross seems so poor to our own. Having stayed in the Field Hospital for three days we got transferred to the Base Hospital at Rouen, staying there a few days. We left Rouen on last Tuesday night, going by train to Boulogne, arriving there in the morning. We were then put on the Hospital ship and sailed for Dover, landing about five o’clock. We then had the pleasant train-ride up to Charing Cross, getting there about nine. It was a fine reception; we could not eat much or drink as we were filled with joy. I am now in King George’s Hospital. I am expecting every day to be transferred nearer home. I have booked for Bath; I hope it will go through alright. This is only a clearing station here for the wounded P.O.W. I am fairly well in health, but my leg is still very bad. The fracture is set in a bad position, and some short stiffening knee – all this is through German treatment. I was in a good hospital – I mean as a hospital, but the treatment they gave for a fracture was absolute torture. I entered this hospital on May 2nd, last year. They drove two nails into my knee, put my leg on a board at the side of the bed, attached two strings to these nails, and hung about 25lbs on them. This lasted for about a month, then while I was having the leg dressed one morning one nail broke off in my leg. They put me on the operation table, took it out, also the sound one, and then drove one clean through my heel; all this was done without chloroform of any description. I had the sand sack on the nail for another two months. Then the nails were taken out. I am now in bed, but am going to try my luck with crutches. Madam, I am now sending you my very best thanks for all your splendid kindnesses. I was on the point of death three times in Germany, and had it not been for the splendid parcels I got, I certainly should not have seen old Blighty again. I sent all the acknowledgement postcards back; hope you received them. The last Frome parcel I received was the beginning of November. Then when the armistice came, all the parcels were collected together and we had anybody’s. I also thank you for the memo cards; I received quite a good few, but not the later months. I hope all the Nunney prisoners of war are safely back. My first letter came yesterday from home. My brother is now enjoying his two months’ leave. Well, I believe the Germans paid very dearly for us lads; they had it in the March offensive. I shall never forget it. I am lucky to be alive. We had the odds of 111 to one against us, but we hung on to the very last. My battalion lost very heavily. I had an officer come to see me; he had such a list of the dear lads that have been missing since last March. I was able to tell him the news of three – two killed and one wounded and P.O.W. I am afraid most of them are killed. I would have given the world to have been in this last offensive of ours. By what I can gather from the lads it was fine sport; it’s a pity they gave in so soon. Well, madam, I expect you feel greatly relieved with the strain of all the parcel work off your mind. I am sure us P.O.W’s can never repay you for your kindness and strenuous work. I am patiently waiting now to get my transfer. I hope it won’t be long, as I have to go through another operation, and I am getting tired of this lying-in-bed sort of life."
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2nd Lt. James Chester Badgley 6th Btn. att. 58th Trench Mortar Bty. Wiltshire Regiment (d.7th Jun 1917) James Badgley was, I think, the name of the father of my Godmother. I have his details from the CWGC which state "6th Bn. Wiltshire Regt. attd. 58th Trench Mortar Bty." together with family details. He enlisted in the Canadian Contingent at Quebec in 1914. I have a photograph which again I think is him but only because we found it in her personal effects after her death.
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A/Sgt. Ernest Burchell DCM 2nd Btn. Wiltshire Regiment  Ernest Burchell, who was my grandfather, joined the Wiltshire Yeomanry on 5th of September 1914 at Marlborough and was posted to Number 1 Section of the 2nd Troop of B Squadron. His superiors were 2nd Lt A. Irwin, Sgt. 58 BRC Palmer and Sgt. 643 Drewitt. The other ranks in his section were: Pte. 1215 Maisey, Pte. 1213 Mace, Pte. 1214 Mace, Pte. 1483 Palmer, Pte. 1877 Hillier, and Pte. 1205 Langfear. The B Squadron commander was Major CS Awdry. This Squadron remained in England for the first part of the war in reserve. They carried out manoeuvres in Ashdown Forest in West Sussex and eventually ended up at Aldershot, where they were part of the South Western Mounted Brigade of the 41st Division.
On 5th of May 1916, they sailed on the SS Rossetti from Southampton to Le Havre, France. Upon arrival in France, they didn't take up combat duties at the front, but they did carry out the important roles of intelligence-gathering, police duties, helping get supplies to the front, digging trenches, and assisting the Engineers with laying communication cables. Some of the Yeomanry (including Ernest) were employed as dispatch riders. During this period, Ernest had two horses that he was riding killed from shrapnel wounds and eventually went to using a motorbike to deliver the dispatches.
On 25th of September 1917, the Yeomanry disbanded and Ernest joined the 6th Wiltshire Regiment. He spent his first day with his new unit in the front line trenches at Spoilbank, south of Ypres. As is well known, the 6th Wiltshires were almost wiped out in the following spring. His section was deployed at Spanbroekmolen, where he and 10 other soldiers were cut off during the Allied retreat. This gallant action earned my granddad the DCM. During phase 2 of the German Spring Offensive of 1918, Ernest and the 6th Wiltshires were involved in heavy fighting during the battles of Bapaume, Bailleul, and Mount Kemmel. Then followed a period of rest and training, after which Ernest was transferred to the 2nd Wiltshires on 13 May 1918 as Pte. 203241. On 23rd of June 1918, he was awarded the DCM, and on 2nd of July 1918 he was promoted to Acting Sergeant with pay.
On 3rd of September 1918, during the 100 days march to victory, Ernest was wounded by a German sniper at Hinges. The family still has the bullet that narrowly missed his heart. He was shipped back to England and spent the remainder of the war recovering from his wound at the East Leeds War Hospital. He was demobilised on 1st of March 1919. He died in 1976, and I am writing a book about his early life.
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Pte Samuel John James 6th (Wiltshire Yeomanry) Btn Wiltshire Regiment (d.23rd March 1918) Samuel James served with the 6th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment in WW1. He died 23rd of March 1918 and is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France.
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WO2. Edward H. Butler DCM. 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment Firstly, I am not a relative of Edward Butler.
I am a medal collector and also mount medals for wear and undertake to frame medals and ephemera for relatives.
I have just completed framing a group of six medals, a photograph, badges etc. and also a copy of the citation for his DCM taken from the London Gazette, October, 1918.
His medals are: Distinguished Conduct Medal,
British War Medal 1914 - 1919,
Victory Medal 1914 - 1918,
Territorial Force War Medal,
Defence Medal 1939 - 1945 and
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.
He was initially a WO2 with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry then with the 6th Battalion, Royal Wiltshire Regiment. His Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (GvR) was awarded for service with the R.A.S.C.
His citation reads:
Sjt. E. H. Butler (Warminster)
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion
to duty. After the enemy had succeeded in
pressing back the right flank, he formed
near him into a Lewis Gun team and
covered the retirement of the troops on
the right, and repulsed a frontal attack,
inflicting heavy casualties on the
enemy. By his courage and resource he
saved a critical situation. (3rd Oct 1918)
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L/Cpl. Josiah Sheppard 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment (d.13th Nov 1916) Josiah Sheppard was the husband of Elizabeth Alma Sheppard of East Hendred, Steventon, Berks.
She never remarried.
He is commemorated on the village memorial at Steventon.
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Sgt. Henry John Walker 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (d.7th July 1916) Henry Walker was my great grandfather. He died aged just 26 years old, leaving behind his wife and young daughter. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France, and will always be remembered by his family.
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Charles Harding 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment (d.1st Jul 1916) Charles Harding served with the 6th Wiltshire Regiment
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Pte. Harry Durn 6th Btn Wiltshire Regiment (d.9th Jun 1917) Harry died, age 18 when an explosive device went off during clearance of the field. This was documented in the regimental diary. Harry's name appears on the Menin Gate
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Pte. James Dawson Hill 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment (d.14th Jul 1917) Private James Hill was killed on the 14th of July 1917 and is buried along side some of his regiment in the war grave located at Oostaverne Wood near Ypres, Belgium.
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Pte. Charlie Fillis 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (d.6th November 1916) Charlie Fillis returned to England on the outbreak of war from Michigan USA. He was was wounded at Gallipoli serving with 5th Wiltshires and transferred to the 6th Battalion.
He died of Wounds at 44th CCS at Puchevillers and is buried Puchevillers British Cemetery in France. He was originally from Church Walk, Devizes, my maternal grandmother's uncle.
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CQMS. Leopold John Jordan 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment (d.4th November 1916) Leo Jordan was among those killed in the Battle of the Somme. His name appears on the Thiepval Monument in France as well as on the Cenotaph in his hometown of Chippenham. He was a beloved son, brother and uncle. He was known to have won several awards for shooting prior to the war.
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Cpl. Frederick Donald Pewtress 6th Btn., C Coy. Wiltshire Regiment (d.2nd July 1916) I do not know much about Frederick Pewtress. But I recently came across his memorial scroll from World War 1.
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Pte. Samuel Bathard 6th Btn. Wiltshire Regiment (d.25th Sep 1915) My great grandfather Samuel Bathard was the son of Alfred and Annie Bathard. He served with his brother Lance Corporal James Bathard and both died on 25th September 1915. Samuel and James are remembered on the Loos Memorial in France.
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2nd Lt. Ewart Gladstone Blackmore 1st Btn. Wiltshire Regiment  Ewart Gladstone Blackmore was born on Saturday 21st May 1898 at 3, Northcote Road, St. George, Gloucestershire and was one of eleven children born to Frederick Charles and Augusta Susan Wesley Blackmore (nee Smith); he was christened on Wednesday 7th February 1900 at St. George The Martyr, St. George, Bristol.
Because of the need for junior officers in the Great War it was routine during war-time for men to be selected to attend Officer Cadet Units or Officer Cadet Schools. Ewart would have been compulsorily conscripted on or about his 18th birthday and would have trained as a recruit. He must have shown leadership potential enabling his commanding officer to put his name forward for officer selection. As a private soldier becoming an officer he would have been struck off the strength of his original unit and added to the officer strength of his new unit. There is no record of the unit that Ewart had originally served in before being selected for officer training.
The London Gazette of 19th April 1918 listed Ewart as being appointed a Second-Lieutenant from an Officer Cadet Unit with effect from 27th March 1918 and joined up with the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (Territorial Force) on 3rd October 1918. He was subsequently seconded to the 6th Battalion Wiltshires for recruiting and reconstruction purposes following huge losses it had sustained during the fighting in France and Flanders where it was reduced to cadre strength.
On the 27th of September Ewart, along with 151 Other Ranks, left England to join the Battalion, eventually joining up with them on 3rd October 1918 at the Divisional Reception Camp near Villers-Guislain in time for the planned assault on the Beaurevoir Line; Battalion HQ was based at Kitchen Crater. Ewart and the Wiltshires pushed on and occupied part of the Hindenburg Line at Rancourt Farm with the 7th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment on the left, the 33rd Division on the right and the 6th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment in support. The 64th Infantry Brigade was holding the front line at Montecouvez Farm. The Wiltshires took up a position east of the farm for an attack on an enemy position in the Beaurevoir Line. The companies were to rendezvous on the eastern edge of the Rancourt Copse at 22.45 hrs. Owing to it being a very dark night and the amount of barbed wire to be passed through, the rendezvous was not completed until 23.30 hrs. The companies then moved off in column of route with increased distances via the tracks and roads and sunken roads. Due to the darkness and state of roads and other traffic the companies did not reach the predetermined point until 00.45 hrs. They were formed up as follows - Front Line - C Company on the right, D company on the left. Support Line - A Company on the right, B Company on the left.
On the 7th October Ewart was involved with the attack on the Beaurevoir Line following a heavy bombardment by the Allied artillery. The casualties taken by the 1st Wiltshires in the assault were 2 Officers and 11 Other Ranks killed; 3 Officers and 78 Other Ranks wounded and Other Ranks Missing 2. Captures comprised 81 enemy Other Ranks, one T.M.B. (Trench Mortar Battery) and two Machine Guns. On the 23rd October the Wiltshires prepared themselves for their night attack on Ovillers situated on the left of the Albert-Bapaume Road which was one of the front line villages held by the Germans, situated on a spur which gave it an excellent view over the British lines. On the opposite side of the valley stood La Boiselle, It was another equally heavily fortified village that commanded the north side of what was called 'Mash Valley'. This attack was a phase of the Battles of the German Hindenburg Line.
The Wiltshires succeeded in taking all of its objectives and held them until 6th Battalion, Leicestershire Regt and 62nd Infantry Brigade went through to capture further objectives. The Wiltshire Regiment casualties during the attack were
Officers Killed;
2nd Lieuts H R Palmer,
H B Cooper.
Other Ranks 23 Wounded Officers:
Lieut.W.J.E Ross, 2nd Lieuts E.G. Blackmore and H. Aston.
Other Ranks 120. Missing Officers Nil. The Battalions War Diary states that Ewart suffered a gunshot wound to the left eye and after first receiving attention at the Regimental Aid Post and then the Advanced Dressing Station, the was sent to the 34 Casualty Clearing Station at Grevillers on the 24th October. A day later he was admitted to the officers surgical ward at No.3 General Hospital at Le Treport roughly 20 miles north east of Dieppe.
Ewarts case was clearly more serious than the CCS could attend to so was sent to No.3 General Hospital at le Treport. He was evacuated to England on 5th November aboard the Hospital Ship Carisbrook Castle. She had previously been used as a troop ship in the Boer War and regularly sailed in the Cape mail service for the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Line during peacetime. The Carisbrook Castle would have docked at Southampton with being Ewart transported by train to Bristol Temple Meads Station before being transferred to the 2nd Southern Area Military Hospital (the Bristol Royal Infirmary) for rehabilitation. Before he was discharged the Armistice was signed by the warring factions so Ewart was never to see active service again.
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Capt.. Percy Marlow 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (d.7th July 1917) Percy Marlow was my great-great-uncle (brother of my maternal great-grandmother). He was killed in the Battle of Messines and is buried near Ypres in the Klein-Vierstaat Cemetery along with others killed on the same date. He is listed in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour as below
Marloe, Percy, Capt., 6th (Service) Battn. The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire Regt.), s. of Henry Marlow, of Netherton House, Alton, co. Hants, by his wife, Elizabeth; b. Alton aforesaid, 15 March, 1892; educ. Eggar's Grammar School; enlisted in the 2nd Life Guards 29 June, 1910; was at one time orderly to Queen Alexandra at Marlborough House; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Aug. 1914; took part in several engagements; obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Wiltshire Regt. 22 Aug.1916, being promoted Captain in Feb 1917, and died at Kemmel 7 June following, of wounds received at Wytschaete, while leading his men. Buried in Klein Vierstraat Cemetery; unm.
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L/Cpl. William John Gower 6th Battalian Wiltshire Regiment (d.2nd July 1916) William Gower served with the 6th Battalian Wiltshire and was attached to the 1st/1st Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry when he was killed on the second day of the Battle of the Somme. He was 21 years old, the son of George Frank and Harriet Gower of 20 Premier St., Nechells, Birmingham.
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Pte. Archibald Ness McCall 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment My grandfather, Archibald Ness McCall was with the Dorset Regiment Pte 27987 and the Wiltshire Regiment Pte 26982 during the First World War. He was a POW and returned home speaking fluent German.
I would like to find out as much as possible about his service and which German camp he was in.
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